Gaura lindheimerii plant named ‘Gauheha’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Gaura lindheimeri  plant with red-purple colored flowers, attractive variegated foliage, and a long blooming season.

Botanical classification: Gaura lindheimeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Gauheha’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Gauralindheimeri known by the varietal name ‘Gauheha’. The new variety wasdiscovered and isolated in Niigata, Japan in May of 2002 as a naturallyoccurring branch mutation of Gaura lindheimeri ‘Gauchebra’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 14,581). The new variety exhibits similar flower color andflower habit to ‘Gauchebra’, but is different from ‘Gauchebra’ in thecoloring of the foliage. The flower color, plant habit and foliage colorof ‘Gauheha’ differ from other Gaura lindheimeri varieties known to thebreeder. The new variety was first asexually reproduced by terminalcuttings in Niigata, Japan. The new variety has been trial and fieldtested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics andremain true to type through successive asexual propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the spike and flowers of the new variety;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety; and

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the leaves of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew cultivar grown outside in peat-based compost in 17 cm pots with noextra fertilizer in The Netherlands. The data which defines thesecharacteristics was collected by asexual reproductions by cuttings. Thecolor readings were taken in The Netherlands under natural daylight.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 days at 22° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 30 days at 18° C.-   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:    About 8 weeks in a 9 cm container.-   Form: Upright; slightly spreading.-   Stem:    -   -   Diameter.—Average 3.5 mm.        -   Length.—Approximately 40 cm from the ground to the flower            tip.        -   Color.—147B and 137B flushed with 59B.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Light.        -   Form.—Erect.-   Height: Blooms are 35-40 cm above soil when grown in a pot and 50 cm    above soil when grown in the ground.-   Diameter: In a pot, the plant grows to 25 cm in diameter. When grown    in the ground, the new variety grows to 35 cm in diameter.-   Vigor: Medium.-   Branching habit: Free.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.        -   Length.—Between 15 to 25 cm.        -   Internode length.—10 mm average, but varies slightly.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Light.        -   Color.—147B and heavily flushed with 59B, especially at the            shoot tip.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Size of leaf.—Length: 6.2 cm average. Width: 0.9 cm average.        -   Shape of leaf.—Oblanceolate.        -   Shape of apex.—Acute.        -   Shape of base.—Attenuate.        -   Texture.—Soft, slightly pubescent.        -   Margin type.—Slightly undulate.        -   Pubescence.—Slight on both upper and lower surfaces.-   Color:    -   -   Young leaves.—        -   Upper surface: The center is 137A and the edge is 9C, with a            flushing of 59B.        -   Lower surface: The center is 137B and the edge is 10B, with            a flushing of 59B.        -   Mature leaves.—Upper surface: The center is a mixture of            137A and 147A, the edge is 9C, with a flushing of 59B.        -   Lower surface: The center is 137B and the edge is 10B.-   Petiole: Sessile: non present.-   Veins:    -   -   Color.—Upper surface: 137C. Lower surface: 137B.

FLOWER

-   Bud:    -   -   Stage when bud characteristics determined.—Fully developed.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Diameter.—2.5 mm average.        -   Length.—16 mm average.        -   Color.—Main body is 59B with the tip color being 147B.-   Natural flowering season: In Northern Europe — from May to late    October outside.-   Spike:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Average 23.        -   Length.—23 cm average.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 16 mm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.        -   Color.—Between 59A and 59B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Length.—15 cm average.        -   Diameter.—4 cm average.-   Individual flower:    -   -   Diameter.—3.2 cm average.        -   Depth.—Approximately 15 mm.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Zygomorphic.        -   Petals/lobes.—Number: 4. Length: 18 mm average. Width: 10 mm            average. Shape: Obovate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Rounded; obtuse.        -   Base.—Rounded; obtuse.        -   Texture and appearance.—Smooth, matte.        -   Color (when opening and fully opened).—Upper surface:            Between 62D and 65D. Lower surface: Between 62D and 65D.            Veins: Upper surface: Between 67B and 67C. Lower surface:            Between 67B and 67C.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Frequently fused at the tip when the flower is            opening. Sometimes they remain fused and/or fail to            separate.        -   Length.—15 mm average.        -   Diameter.—2 mm average.        -   Sepal number.—4        -   Sepal shape.—Linear.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal apex.—Linear; rounded.        -   Sepal texture.—Smooth, pubescent.        -   Sepal size.—Length: 15 mm average. Width: 2 mm average.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: 58A. Lower surface: 58A.-   Fragrance: None.-   Disease resistance: Good.-   Temperature tolerance: Good.-   Drought tolerance: Good.-   Lasting quality: Flowers last 1-2 days individually.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—8 per flower.        -   Filament length.—14 mm average.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Linear. Length: 3.2 mm. Color: 59A.        -   Pollen.—Color: 3B. Amount: Plentiful-   Pistils:    -   -   Length.—20 mm average.        -   Style.—Length: 19 mm average. Color: White flushed with 62A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Four ovals in cruciform. Color: 2C.-   Seed: None produced.

1. A new and distinct variety of Gaura lindheimeri plant substantiallyas shown and described.